Hawaii Auto Group (Honolulu Volkswagen & Smart Car Center Hawaii) Reviews

Brought my car in for a factory defect and it took them over eight weeks to figure out the problem. they were nice enough to lend me a loaner car which I needed to return every week for a different motor car. They still couldn't figure out the problem with my GTI and on top of it all when I got my car back the ignition wouldn't turn and they said it was my problem and I had to fix it. Should be called a stealership! Don't waste your time. Go to Tony VW.

Had a great experience at vw, Livingston was a great help. 10/10

UPDATE: Car still doesn't run. When I took it in for service they told me they couldn't figure out what was wrong with the car, but it definitely wasn't safe to drive and tried to sell me a new car for 2X the monthly payments I'm still paying on this one! Are they crazy? The car THEY sold me doesn't work and they just want me to buy another one from them?

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I've been reading through these reviews and a lot of them seem to have a common thread. Many people including myself have been sold vehicles that happen to stop working, break down, and basically fall apart shortly after, ALL at the owner's expense. I can't even keep count of the amount of times I've had service issues with this car. At first I thought maybe I somehow ended up with a lemon but after reading all of these I don't doubt that this dealership is knowingly selling cars with issues. I've had two other VW Jetta's purchased on the mainland and never had problems with them, but I will definitely never be buying another. VW needs to handle this.

It was a pleasure to work with the team at Honolulu Volkswagen but especially our Salesperson Emma. We are not the easiest to please but her personality and easy going sales demeanor put us at ease. Emma s off hand knowledge of the VW family of cars, inventory and purchase options made this experience one of our quickest and best experiences. We purchased this vehicle for our teen; Emma along with the team helped make it extra special. They delivered to us a beautifully cleaned and shined vehicle with the unforgettable special touch of pink balloons. Their work helped make our teens 16th birthday extra special. Will never forget the attention to detail and heart of the Honolulu Volkswagen family and especially Emma.

Bought our dream car yesterday and worked with several different salesman during the process. We took our time and everyone was patient and very kind to us. We had a wonderful experience and I highly recommend their business to anyone car shopping on this island! Specifically -- Steven, Kyle, Brandon, and Eric deserve a big shout out!

With another little Princess on the way, it was time for PaPa to find a safe reliable vehicle for my sons growing little family. My search led me to Honolulu Volkswagen, after meeting Brandon, Jeremy, seeing the vehicle and test driving it, we need not go anywhere else. After a little back and forth Brandon and Jeremy we're able to get us into the vehicle we wanted and within budget but it wasnt until we met with Eric (finance guy) when it all came together. I am a happy PaPa knowing that my little Princess's will be safe when on the road I can sleep good at night.

If you want a painless experience in car buying see Brandon, Jeremy and Eric at Honolulu Volkswagen.

All things considered, my experience was very good last week. It was my first time at Hon VW, and the personal care from the Service desk was great. Nothing short of great. The quotes I was initially given for several repairs, however, were outrageous. Absolutely was too high. Almost insulting. But they work with me on the price and reduced their repair quotes by a large %.
I'm not a fan of getting work done at import dealerships, but this particular visit worked out fine, and I do appreciate their customer service.

I just leased a brand new car at Honolulu Volkswagen! 2019 VW Tiguan! It s awesome! We had the privilege of working with Corey Dorohue, whom is an amazing and caring sales person! Even though he worked with us for a bit, he took the time to ensure we were right fitted with the perfect vehicle that met ALL of our needs! We went back and forth over older models, buying, leasing, and whatever, but in the end his first suggestion ended up being the absolute perfect one. We wanted to trade in a van we would have been upside down with and made our situation worse had we bought the first couple options we thought was right. In the end we got a killer deal and even got some cool VW swag to go with our new car! Thank Corey! Your attention to ensuring we had exactly what we needed and should get is very much appreciated! Go see Corey... a salesman who cares!

Quality service from Brandon and Kyle.It was a easy and quick process,I recommend going to this guys.

Always happy to visit this location. Friendly staff, accommodating shuttle service, can't go wrong scheduling an appointment here.

Very candid advice from Jeff Ramones re extended warranties ~ thanks !

I was a little annoyed at first because I entered and no one awknowledge my presence. One rep was on the phone helping someone else and two other guys just chatted away and didn't point say anything like "someone will be right with you." However, Jessica was super professional, polite, and helpful once she returned to the desk. She offered some food from the Halloween festivities, helped with the shuttle, and made sure everything with my car was taken care of. The five stars is for her service specifically.

Sold me a car that had roaches in it, months later still has the same problem,

I really enjoyed the sales process with this team at Honolulu VW (Dylan, Ivan, Emma, and the other managers). It was a very pleasant experience buying my new GTI and I would recommend this dealership to others!

Livingston Rowan, top notch professional salesman. Was able to meet all request and got this young Marine his first car with 2.9 interest. Highly recommend you come here because everything is straight forward and no BS just professional all the way.

Much mahalo to Kyle! Helped me look for couple cars and I got one I wanted.

Great experience! They were very honest and helpful. Brandon made it very easy. We will be back.

My husband recently purchased a Tiquan. Happy with the used vehicle but the service department was rude. I stood in line waiting to be called for service and was completely ignored even though the rep looked dead at me. Randy the sells rep was very helpful in making sure my husbands needs were met. Now that it is time for me to shop for a vehicle, I will definitely not be purchasing from them. I will be looking at Infiniti since they appreciate and give great customer service in all departments.

Overall great buying experience, no pressure and Kam was so helpful and patient. Highly recommended.

EJ was very patient and helpful with me. As well didn t treat me as a custom ,But like one of his family member. One of the best car dealership I been too in my life.

Corey hooked it up. Found me exactly what i wanted for what i wanted.

Accurate online inventory, close to the airport (roughly 15 minute walking distance), friendly staff, and a nearby area to try out your vehicle. I recommend taking with Livingston about whatever car you were looking at online, he'll find it shortly and he'll you updated if there are any issues.

When I bought my previous car here in 2013, I had a great experience. In 2019 the sales department is bad. The service department remains quite good (Jessica Balles is fantastic). It took the dealership about 5 hours to complete paperwork and ready my car. For the last 3 hours, I was repeatedly told they were 10-20 minutes away from being ready. Salesman didn't know even basic information about financing before telling me monthly payments (not stated as an average or estimate) based on wildly wrong APR.
A month later and I still don't have permanent plates, plus DMV just sent me a registration renewal form for my traded-in car. Dealership is blaming the DMV, but because of past lies, I can't believe them. Customer service has been poor. They are either understaffed, or they just don't care.

We brought our vehicle in for an oil change, safety inspection, and to have a belt buckle replaced. We had a few communication issues but in the end everything was resolved and we were satisfied with the service.

Getting the appointment online was easy and quick. I was able to get my appointment the next day. I did not have to wait at the service desk when I arrived for my appointment. The service was completed when they told me it would be. The staff was curtious and knowledgeable. Overall, I was very satisfied with the service experience.

Worst service from Alex and the manager. I wouldnt reccomend this place.

Went there to get my car safety checked. The wait was awesome and the mechanic was very nice. Thank you!

I came to Honolulu Volkswagen hoping to find my next ride and James made that happen. James and his boss Stuart worked hard to ensure I was satisfied. I left extremely happy with a brand new 2021 Gti and as a proud new member to the Volkswagen family. The service that I received from James was outstanding and plenty of Aloha. I highly recommend Honolulu Volkswagen.

I had a great experience here finding my first car ever. Shayne went over and beyond to find me a vehicle that fits my lifestyle. More than happy with my new Tiguan !

Honolulu VW was an amazing experience and to walk up to this place not even knowing I even wanted to buy a car. Livingston was an amazing sales consultant and even was very patient with us and we ended up getting a VW Tiguan right off the show room floor. Thank You VW family of Honolulu.

These guys have been taking care of me since I bought my Golf from them in July. They took a wholesale, rundown vehicle and replaced the suspension, windshield, a/c, all four tires, and rear taillight assembly and only charged me an extra $1000 even though all of that work was over $4000. After my engine needed servicing they were very prompt and reasonable. Jessica at services is a standout!

Very good service. Quick response! Great communication, salesman Kyle got me a great deal! No regrets, finance department very helpful! I ll consider this dealership over any other ones next time!

Jessica in Service at Honolulu VW epitomizes the very best in service great communication, thorough, and perfect follow-uo. She makes taking your car in a great experience! Honolulu VW Service Dept stands out.

All the staff is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Livingston helped me find the car that fit my needs and then we negotiated a price that we could both agree on. highly recommend.

If you re looking for a new car I definitely recommend Honolulu Volkswagen!
Ask for EJ. He worked with me from the first day and did an awesome job answering questions and explained everything very clearly.
My schedule isn t the most predictable but he was still willing and able to work with me and helped me get in and out both times I had to come in!
Great service, awesome people! I highly recommend!

They told me 5-7 business days for a part to come in. It ended up being 2 weeks. When I asked for a loaner car, they said there was a waiting list . When I went to pick up my car after they installed the new part, they lost my car key. The lady immediately offered me a loaner car, after saying 2 weeks earlier that there was a waiting list. The bag where she took the keys out of had at least 4-5 sets of keys in there. After about 20-30 minutes of searching, they finally found the key. Very unorganized.

It was a very chill experience. We didn't feel pressured to buy anything and when we did make our decision EJ was very helpful and willing to move the price as much as possible. EJ and the whole staff were very nice. Definitely planning on buying my graduation present from there!

I am not one to write reviews, however I felt compelled because I had a great experience buying a car here. I have bought many cars before and like many others I have had several unpleasant experiences. From shady salespeople to greedy finance managers, the industry as a whole has created what can be a very combative and intimidating experience. I had done my research and knew the vehicle I wanted as well as the price I was willing to pay. I then walked into Honolulu Volkswagen with my "game face" on expecting to go to battle. However I am pleased to say I never had to battle. My salesperson Darien was helpful and at no time did I feel pressured. We sat down with the gentleman who is responsible for financing and everything was clearly laid out including the money factor. The pricing was fair and there was no ridiculous markup above the MSRP that some dealers like to tack on. Finalizing the deal with the finance manager was simple, quick and painless, just as it should be. To top things off I received a box of VW branded swag as part of a holiday promotion. Consider me stoked! Lastly, I would like to mention the General Manger Angela who was most welcoming and very helpful in addressing a problem with the vehicle I had traded in. I realize I can be a difficult, demanding customer as we all should be but kudos to Darien, Angela and the rest of the team for a smooth, painless transaction. I was fully satisfied with my experience and look forward to purchasing my next vehicle here!

Honolulu VW is a great business with a friendly atmosphere where you don't feel the pressure and anxiety of most car dealerships.

From the time I got there, until the time I left with a new 2019 GLI, it was a good experience and Eanjym (EJ) was great to deal with and made me feel like Ohana while I was there.

I highly recommend EJ and Honolulu VW to anyone looking for a hassle free way to get a vehicle!

Flo helped get me the perfect car! She asked all the right questions about what I was looking for as well as limitations and helped me get into the exact vehicle I wanted. She was incredibly professional and knowledgeable and I would recommend her to anyone in the area looking to buy!

This is a review for the service department only. I cannot give any information regarding the sales department.

First time visit was today. The service manager who checked me in, the only one working on a Saturday, was rude and completely inappropriate to a customer. He repeatedly told me I was wrong even though I had my VW service manual with me asking why there was a difference in the service they were telling me I needed and what the book said I needed. He got more agitated, threw his hands, and just walked away without ever finishing explaining. To make maters worse his manager was standing right there and did nothing about it.

They attempted to have more maintenance done on my car than was required, and were not going to tell me until after the fact. The book you get from VW has each service in it, the sheet they printed out was made at their shop and had multiple other items on it that will increase the cost. Specifically, for my service they wanted to perform the clutch oil change which is done on the 40K and 80K, and inspect the timing belt. The service I needed was basically a fluid and filter change with tire rotation.

This comes as a shock to me because our last service manager is one of the nicest and most professional people I know. I will be contacting VW corporate regarding this issue, and I will take my business somewhere else.

Not the best place to buy a car or get service done.

Excellent customer service, accommodating of questions and very informative.

Honolulu Volkswagen always treats me right. Working with Jessica is always a pleasure. They make sure my VW is in tip top shape. I always appreciate the friendly service and car wash.

Awesome!!! Dan in the service department delivered excellent customer service! Top notch, quality care and attention to detail. Went above and beyond what I was there for initially. Gave me peace of mind as I drive off the lot!!!

james lewis from st louis was awesome! easy to work with and he made the dreaded negotiation process pain free!

An other exceptional visit at Honolulu VW. Great servicing team and a great customer relations team.

I bought a used car, had serious safety issues with the steering the first week I had it. Talked to them and got it fixed (I paid $1,300.00) and they submitted the paperwork under the 60 day warranty and reimbursement was declined. Sales manager left me a message saying it was denied, but wouldn't return my phone calls to explain why. They also promised to fix the front seat belts and never made good on that. Do yourself a big favor and go somewhere else to buy. Anywhere else is better than they are.

The first time we went to Honolulu VW, we were unhappy with the service and went to their competition, Tony VW. We drove off the lot with a brand new R-Line Tiguan. With the benefit of the doubt, we decided to try visiting Honolulu again. With the right salespeople, they will make sure you re happy and drive off the lot happy. Thanks to Kyle, Livingston and Brant...my husband drove off the lot with his dream car, A GTI and his favorite color!!

I bought a Tiguan in June and the buying experience was smooth and professional. EJ is organized, knowledgeable, and professional. We looked forward to seeing him again. He is pleasant to work with and he drives a Volkswagen too. During this pandemic he is always wearing a mask and that is reassuring as it s a weird time overall to be out shopping.

I bought my Tiguan with confidence and my husband went back the next week and bought a GTI from EJ. Now we have modern cars and can enjoy family drives. Top customer service!

I spent $25,000 on a used VW from VW of Honolulu, once I walked out of the signing room i was informed that the vehicle only came with 1 key. Also if I would like to purchase a spare they would gladly sell me one for almost $400. I will be going to Tony Volkswagen from now on.

This is the best dealership, they really take care of you after your purchase.

Professional and efficient, service crew is Awesome, happy to be with Hon.VW,for life

Always take care of everything I need. Excellent customer serivce

Thank you so much Eaniym "EJ" Sales- Product Specialist @ Honolulu VW. Got my Beautiful ride. Great service. Fast action service.

The service here is remarkable. I had great experiences purchasing a car, in a tight time constraint, with multiple people working here. Emma and Kyle are wonderful people to do business with. Emma looked out for my best interest when looking for a good car to buy, and im not talking only price, she told me about some deficiencies in a car i was looking at, so i didnt waste my time. Along with that, she kept me informed over the course of a week and a half on a car i showed interest in. When i decided to come in and look at the car, Kyle took over, and he was exceptionally easy to conversate with. He was extremely knowledgeable on the things i needed in order to purchase the vehicle, and he worked past closing time to help me get things done. Truly an easy and quick experience. If you are looking to buy a car, get a hold of Emma or Kyle and you will not be disappointed.

Thank you EJ for helping us really great full that we meet you and thank you to everybody in Honolulu Volkswagen you guys are really helpful n thank you for making it possible for me n my family

Every time that I come into Honolulu Volkswagen for any service matters, I am treated like family. They embrace OHANA here at Honlolulu Volkswagen. They are the gold standard when it comes to customer service!

From the moment you step in, you will feel welcome. Jeffrey Ramones is the person who helped me. He is very professional, he is very knowledgeable, he has the willingness to serve!
I definitely recomend VW Honolulu and it s team!

Super awesome service with Livingston Rowan, needed a part ordered but the parts shop was closed. He took initiative and took down my info to order the part for me so I wouldn t have to come the next day. Super helpful, super friendly! Highly recommend!!!

Emma and Dillon are awesome! Sweet deal on a used car . . . drove away in a matter of minutes (88 to be exact!).

Great customer service. They worked with us every step of the way to give us a great deal!

Eanjym was really straight forward, he informed me of my buying power and he didn t pressure me into making a rushed choice when it came to my purchase

I am so pleased with my salesman BRANDON TOM..and the entire staff here at Honolulu Volkswagen..they are truly FAMILY!!!!!

I had a great experience buying a used car here. I called the day before and told them exactly which car I had seen on the website and wanted and the next day Kenny had it waiting up front when I arrived. I was taking it on a test drive within minutes of arriving. The whole process went so smoothly that I could have taken it home that day if I hadn't driven myself there! No one even once tried to push extra or unnecessary services on me and I never felt rushed or harried into making any decisions. Kenny was so polite and considerate throughout the whole process and even followed up afterwards to make sure I was having no problems with my new car.

This guys are a rip off. Tried to sell me this truck for max price and it had a million recalls associated with it. They were going to sell me a truck that they didn t even know the recalls on. Next to that they gave me their word that if I prefilled the credit application they would not run it without my permission I m the idiot that signed the paper but a direct quote from them I promise, we would never run it without your permission . Luckily I had credit monitoring so I got a notification as soon as it happen. They did not notify me that they ran the check. I waited to give them a chance to tell me but that never happened. I had to let them know that I had credit monitoring for them to come clean and apologize. The check dropped my credit score 28 points and I never bought from them. So now my record shows a check which stays on my record for 2 years. Their word is supposed to mean everything to a customer but they lost my trust when they mishandled my private information.

Honolulu VW is one of the best dealership I ve ever visited. They really help you reach your goal. They take the time to get to know your situation and find options that will help you get to where you wanna go. Brandon Tom was friendly and supportive in my goal to getting my dream car. Him and Erik (from finance) help me get a great deal for my GTI. Awesome team! Thanks guys for all your help! I will have a great Christmas this year!

Jeremy Fontes helped us with the sale of a used car to the dealership. We were using the USAA program that helps find buyers for used cars. Jeremy was professional and thorough, and went the extra mile to help us finish the transaction. We were very impressed with Jeremy, this purchase program, and the dealership,

Emma was fantastic. Came in looking for a different person but they weren t in so she helped me. She was very patient with my crying kids and more than willing to help. I would recommend seeing her or any of the helpful staff there. Her manager was very honest with me too while getting me the right numbers.
Thanks VW! Loving being apart of the VW family

Dylan at the service desk was extremely helpful positive and professional. He provided me with clear information and helped get my car's needs taken care of in a flash!
I'm very thankful for my great experience at Volkswagon.

Absolutely fantastic experience purchasing a used Jeep Wrangler. EJ was awesome...no pressure, but made himself available when we were. The Volkswagon Honolulu team worked together seamlessly to ensure our needs were met, our questions answered, and the vehicle was ready. Thank you!

Excellent experience all around- every staff member at Honolulu VW was friendly, patient, and professional.

My 2017 Golf SportWagen is everything I have ever wanted in a car. My last Golf was a 2-door and was with me for 18 years. It was time to look for another car, and I had no doubt what I wanted. I have more passenger and trunk space now, thank you for the perfect car!
I had my first service to change my oil yesterday, 10 Months later, and the staff was incredible. I am grateful everyday for my car :)

EJ Sales THANK YOU!! Jeff THANK YOU!!! Appreciate all your help yesterday with my purchase came in at 5pm left by 7:30pm fast quick no hassle experiance!!!

If you are looking for a professional, highly efficient, and personal buyer experience, look no further than Honolulu VW. My VW Sales Associate, Emma was patient, knowledgeable, and customer focused. She answered all my questions and made recommdations without the sales pressure. Truly considerate of my needs and a great representative of VW HONOLULU and Hawaii!! A must location for anyone looking fur a car in Oahu!!

Awesome car buying experience. The staff was very friendly and showed lots of aloha. Shout out to braddah James Lewis, he showed me several cars on the lot and gave me a good price for my trade-in, made me feel like I knew him since I was 12.

Customer service is always great. Jessica was very kind and thorough. Thanks!

Our sales associate Liv went above and beyond to take care of us. This is the only place on the island you want to go to buy a car. Every person my family and I interacted with was professional and helpful. We were able to get the exact car we wanted in very little time and at a fair price. Best hot chocolate in town!!! You need to get your next car from this place. GREAT TEAM..

Great service, great prices, Jessica totally helped me out and got my car out of the service department in a timely manner.

Excellent experience with Honolulu Volkswagen. Sage was able to answer my questions and address my concerns in a professional manner. So much so that I purchased the vehicle.

Very pleasant experience at VW Honolulu! I went in with quite a bit of negative equity and Emma worked with me to get the right car for my lifestyle. She was very friendly and extremely quick with all the paperwork. Eric in finance was quick and efficient as well! Offering pizza and beverages all along the way!

MY FAVORITE DEALERSHIP! Ej is an amazing salesman ... I wouldn't even give him that title because he didn't "sale" my husband and I anything. He simply showed us the vehicles we wanted to view and lets the cars speak for themselves. He was very relatable, he made great conversation, and he assisted my husband and I to purchase our first family car! We even received a VW baby bib and Yeti! Customer service is 1000% the best I have ever experience. We will definitely be back in the future!

Jessica was great. Friendly and got the Service Dept. to fix a rusty bolt for free.

Tama, Dan and others were customer oriented. Excellent service and staff. Thank you Volkswagon. Yes, excellent service and staff. Thank you Volkswagon.

Phenomenal Experience with Honolulu VW. Thanks to Ken, I got a great deal on a brand new GTI. A very professional and polite salesman, who is quite attentive to the customer's needs. He showed me the vehicle I wanted and got right down to business, showing me each and every feature that came with the vehicle, providing me all the details I needed to make a decision, while assuring me that there was no pressure if I decided against the purchase. He walked me through all the steps which made the whole experience even easier, quick and painless. I'm extremely excited about my new GTI! Highly recommend to anyone who is searching for a vehicle to go and sit down with Ken!

We came in to trade in our Tiguan for a newer model. Justus helped us out and was very friendly and helpful.

Jessica, was amazing. She was courteous and professional from the time we walked in the door. She got our car checked in quickly and got back to us by the end of the day and had our problem diagnosed and fixed. Give this professional a raise! Great service and upholds the Volkswagen name!

The sales department helped me
Gyle is one of the sales man he is awesome he helped you get what car you like

Everything was right on time and the complimentary car wash was an added bonus.

The buying experience at Honolulu VW was perfect. I worked with Livingston Rowan and he was very knowledgeable on all the cars that I was interested in. He made the transition from my old lease to a new a breeze. I highly recommend stopping by for all your car purchasing needs.

Fantastic service! The staff were all friendly and helpful. 5 star!

I received excellent service from the employees and service department staff. They went above and beyond to provide an overall great experience!